King County Bus Rides Free During Bad Snow, Council Decides

SEATTLE, WA — During the next snow disaster in Puget Sound, the one thing you won't have to worry about is bus fare.

The King County Council on Wednesday approved a proposal to waive King County Metro bus fares during snow emergencies. The free fares would only happen when Metro activates the Emergency Snow Network (ESN). Metro put the ESN into effect during the February snow storms for the first time.

Councilwoman Jeanne Kohl-Welles sought the change to help keep the homeless and other vulnerable people stay safe during major snow events.

"It will encourage people to stay off the roads and get to where they need using a safer mode of transportation — regardless if they have an Orca Card or enough money to pay the fare," Kohl-Welles said in a statement, comparing the measure to Metro waiving bus fares on New Year's Eve.

The ESN reduces King County Metro's network down to a core 67 routes that run along major roads that avoid steep hills.